The New Orleans Saints like to say that every spot on the roster is up for grabs when training camp begins.

Realistically, that isn't the case.

When the first practice of training camp begins on Friday at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, 90 players will be competing for 53 spots.

However, while some positions such as wide receiver, have an open competition for a few starting spots, others like quarterback have only backup positions available.

We'll be breaking down some of the most intriguing position battles this week as the team prepares to fly up to training camp on Wednesday.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Saints depth chart

Marques Colston

Kenny Stills

Brandin Cooks

Joe Morgan

Nick Toon

Robert Meachem,

Andy Tanner

Charles Hawkins,

Seantavius Jones

Brandon Coleman

Steve Hull

Total roster spots available: 5

Roster spots open: 2

State of the position: The Saints typically keep five receivers on their roster, An exception was made for Courtney Roby, who was listed as a wide receiver but played almost exclusively on special teams.

That would have to be the case again for the Saints to deviate from the norm in 2014. Last season, they carried five wide receivers, but usually activated four on game days, which usually left Nick Toon as the odd man out.

Going into this season, Marques Colston, Kenny Stills, and rookie Brandin Cooks have three of those roster spots locked up. That essentially leaves two active roster spots for the other eight wide receivers, four of whom are still practice squad eligible.

The obvious front-runners are Robert Meachem, who recently signed a one-year deal with the Saints, Joe Morgan, who is recovering from a torn ACL, and third-year receiver Nick Toon.

While Toon, 25, and Morgan, 26, seem more likely choices over the 29-year-old Meachem because of their age, the two spots could realistically go to any of the trio.

However, barring a standout performance in camp, it could be difficult for the other receivers, including Andy Tanner, to win a job over those three.